Screening machine



April 16, 1929. R. E. LEVI-IRS SCREENING MACHINE Filed Aug. 5, 1926 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 16, 1929.

UNITED STATES ROLLAND E. LEVERS, OF ROCKY FOR D, QOLOR-AIDO.

SCREENING MACHINE,

Application filed August 3,1926.

This invention relatesto a threshing machine primarily designed for recovering seed from cantaloupes, cucumbers or the like.

The primary object of'the invention is to provide a machine wherein the cucumbers, cantaloupes or articles being thrashed may be thrown into a hopper and treated in such a way that the seed will be thrown out of the machine free of pulp or other particles of the melon or cucumber under treatment.

\Vith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmental elevational view parts thereof being shown in section and illustrating the forward portion of the machine.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of one of the adjustable bearing members.

Figure 3 is an elevational view of one end of the spiral conveyor forming a part of th machine.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4: l of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an elevational view of one end of the screening member.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view thereof.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the device includes a body portion indicated generally by the reference character 1, and includes bars 6 and 7 that provide a support for the hopper 8, which is adapted to discharge material into thehousing 9 which is provided at its bottom with a trough 10 in which the worm conveyor 11 operates.

Connected with the bars 6 and 7 are transverse supporting bars 12 on which the bearings lt are mounted, which bearings accommodate the shaft of the crushing roll 16.

The bearings 14 are of the adjustable type, each of which includes a stationary base portion 17 and a movable section 18, the movable section 18 being supplied with a threaded member 19 operating through a threaded opening in the member20 so that the movable section 18 may be moved for- Serial No. 126,830.

The forward end of the screening member 36 is normally closed by means of the disk which is formed with a cut out portion 46 into which the trough 10 extends to the end that the upper end of the screening member will be closed at all times.

The disk 45 is pivotally supported at 47, there being provided an adjusting screw 48 connected with the lower end of the disk for swinging the disk on its pivots 47 to compensate for the position of the screening member and insure against material passing from the upper end of the screenin g member.

In the operation of the device, cantaloupes, cucumbers or the like material to be threshed, are placed in the hopper 8 and the machine is set in motion. The crushing rolls act to crush the articles from where the pulp and seeds pass downwardly into the trough 10. The worm conveyor 11 which is rotating, forces the material through the trough and into the rotary screening member 37 which is constantly rotating.

It will be seen that as the screening member rotates, the seeds will pass through the mesh of the rotary screening member and the pulp and other foreign material will be fed towards the discharge end of the screening member or to a point exteriorly of the machine, the seeds dropping into the body of the machine 1, from where they may be removed, at the will of the operator.

I claim:

1. In a screening machine, an inclined cylindrical screening member, means for rotating the screening member, a disk pivotally supported at one end of the cylindrical screening member to normally close one end of the screening member, said disk having an opening, a feed spout extending through the opening to feed material to the screening member, and means for adjusting the disk to cause the disk to lie in parallel relation with the ends of the cylindrical screening member. 7

2-. In a screening machine, a frame, an inclined adjustable screening member mounted Within the frame, a closure at the feed end of the screening member, said closure having an opening, a delivery; spout extending into the opening to feed material to the 10 screening member, means for pivotally sup- HOLLAND E. LEVERS. 

